Posted by Dinah on August 3, 2004, at 9:36:16
In reply to talking about the client patient relationship, posted by rubenstein on August 3, 2004, at 9:10:09
I think the amount of emphasis on the relationship varies widely between types of therapies. There are some therapies that concentrate a great deal on the relationship, and others (like CBT) that touch on it only lightly.
Have you read the book "In Session"? It's a very helpful book.
I'm trying to remember if I felt uncomfortable talking about my relationship with my therapist. I think at first, I mainly talked about negative stuff and I wasn't a bit uncomfortable. When I started sharing positive feelings for him, I was horrendously uncomfortable. But he knew how to handle both with grace and professionalism, and I no longer feel uncomfortable with either.
It never has to be an all or none proposition. I always disclosed in steps (about anything, not just our relationship), checked his reaction, then disclosed more. I think thanking him would be a reasonable step. It's hard to think of thanking someone as being terribly inappropriate. Is there something about thanking him that you think he might take wrong?
poster:Dinah
thread:373553
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/psycho/20040728/msgs/373558.html